I've made one piece in three days, but one is better than none, a little practice is better than no practice, so I'm thinking this is an improvement!

 

I have a good excuse, though. I'm going through piles of paperwork and shredding what is no longer needed. I have tax returns and related paperwork going back to 1990, so you can imagine how much there is and how long it's taking. Of course, the shredder had to break in the middle of it all, so I tried shredding by hand. That didn't last long. Out of exasperation, I filled the sink with water and dumped the papers in it. Left them to soak for a few hours, then put on rubber gloves and squeezed the water out (pretending I doing laundry by hand). The paper fell apart as I twisted the water out of it and ended up looking like cottage cheese. It's one way to destroy personal information!


 



Simplicity is the removal of the useless and the unnecessary--source unknown

My energy has been low; the heat and humidity don't help, and I'm thinking getting older also has something to do with it. I don't work as much as I used to and it worries me when I go a full week without making anything.

So, when I get a burst of energy, I take advantage of it. I wanted to practise some abstract and semi-abstract ideas.

I painted this entirely with a small sponge because I wanted to see how it would feel and what it would look like.

 Blowing in the wind

Rear window

Simplicity is the removal of the useless and the unnecessary--source unknown

Faces

 I like drawing and painting faces. It occurred to me that the 8x10" mixed media art boards are the perfect substrate and size for faces (for me). I sketched this in the afternoon, put down some paint, then had to go and take care of a few things. Last night, as I was watching TV, I got up and went to work on it.

 

 L’été meurtier, acrylic on art board, 8x10 in. // 20.3 x 25.4 cm

Simplicity is the removal of the useless and the unnecessary--source unknown

Two paintings and an article

In the last couple of days, I finished an article for Somerset Studio and made two paintings. After a couple of slow months, my energy is returning.

The paintings are done on a new (to me) product - Canson Mixed Media Art Boards. They come in a pad of 10 boards and measure 8 x 10 inches.

Watercolour

 

Acrylic

Simplicity is the removal of the useless and the unnecessary--source unknown

Small is good

I like creating small items, maybe because of instant gratification but also because of the portability.

I made a pouch out of kozuke paper (it's a very sturdy Japanese paper), stamped and stitched it. It's perfect for keeping small supplies in it along with needle and thread, thimble and mini scissors.

Simplicity is the removal of the useless and the unnecessary--source unknown

Indigenous Canadian art

 Yesterday I went to the Art Gallery of Ontario to see the Tunirrusiangit exhibition. It was gorgeous and extremely well done. Several galleries were filled with the works of Inuit artist Kenojuak Ashevak and her son Tim Pitsiulak.

This work, The Enchanted Owl, is by Kenojuak Ashevak, stonecut on paper, 1960.

Simplicity is the removal of the useless and the unnecessary--source unknown

 I wonder what was going through the sculptor's mind....

Abbey of Sainte Foy (France), c. 1050

Source unknown.









Simplicity is the removal of the useless and the unnecessary--source unknown

Start your engine

I couldn't get started. So I cut a large piece from a roll of paper, took a big brush and some paint, and smooshed it around. It was very freeing.

 Then I made a small piece using a charcoal pencil. 

 It got me started and I had a productive day.

Simplicity is the removal of the useless and the unnecessary--source unknown

Strawberries

Strawberries from Quebec. They are luscious and very sweet. I was happy to see them in my local market. They give Ontario strawberries a run for their money.

Simplicity is the removal of the useless and the unnecessary--source unknown

I'm having a "yard sale" in my apartment. It's astounding to see how many supplies I've accumulated over the years. Much of them aren't being used anymore, so I've giving away stuff as well as selling at yard sale prices.

I didn't want to part with my antique doll parts, so I made this for a friend. Making a tiny pin cushion with a doll leg is not my idea -- I saw something similar years ago (unfortunately I don't remember where or who came up with it).

Simplicity is the removal of the useless and the unnecessary--source unknown

Small collages

Waste not, want not. Using up the leftover scraps and slivers from my larger collages. When you make your own painted papers, it's hard to throw anything away...

Artist Trading Cards

 And a work in progress.

Simplicity is the removal of the useless and the unnecessary--source unknown

There is so much wrong in the world at the moment, that we have to pull back, look for all that is right with the world....

...eat chocolate for lunch, and live to fight another day.

 Chocolate fudge cake by Dufflet is one of the good things in the world.

Simplicity is the removal of the useless and the unnecessary--source unknown

Dog walking

I have become a dog walker for two people who live in my building. Not a bad little sideline because I love dogs. I grew up with an Alsatian, and I have a soft spot for mutts and rescue dogs.

These dogs, however, are small and didn't need rescuing, but no less lovable.

Two of them are bichons frisés, retired show dogs, a father and son, and very sweet.

The third one is a dachshund. He's a little guy who is very affectionate and, while we had a rocky start when he refused to walk, I dog-whispered him and now we're best friends.

The added bonus is that I get a lot of exercise.





Simplicity is the removal of the useless and the unnecessary--source unknown

Paintings on the other side

 I'm always thrilled when I sell a painting, especially one of my larger canvasses, as they go very, very slowly. So much so that it's a shock when one sells.

This painting was the second in a series I made, that I called My Mother's Garden on the Other Side. I painted six of them, and I think my mother would be proud of me.

This one is going to Boston, one of my favourite cities where I spent some time.

Paint me grateful!


 Simplicity is the removal of the useless and the unnecessary--source unknown

Collage

Not wanting to waste all the lovely leftover bits and slivers of  my painted papers, I made this. I think it might be my favourite.

 

Simplicity is the removal of the useless and the unnecessary--source unknown

Collage painting No. 2

I went at it again. Despite the time, planning, tearing, gluing... a lot of hours for one piece, but definitely worth it.

Black Coffee

 

Simplicity is the removal of the useless and the unnecessary--source unknown

Collage painting - final

I finished this piece this morning. 

 

I learned a few things.

"Painting" with collage paper scraps and shapes is not for the faint-hearted.

It takes a lot of planning (in your head); 

cutting, trimming, tearing, shaping your painted papers; 

working out the positioning of various elements; 

a steady hand (all those tiny scraps); patience (a lot); and glue - a lot of glue. 

And that's only the half of it.

 

Simplicity is the removal of the useless and the unnecessary--source unknown

WIP Collage and more

Work in Progress

Since I'm in the collage zone these days, I thought I'd try "collage painting" - instead of using paint, you use scraps of painted papers. My papers were for cleaning my roller when making monoprints and I kept them because I liked them. Now I'm using them for this project. There's a lot more to do - we'll see how it turns out.

Simplicity is the removal of the useless and the unnecessary--source unknown

Collage city

 Collages, soon to be listed in my Etsy shop.

Sister Fidelma of the Unquiet 

(just listed in my Etsy shop)

 

 Fandango

  Ghosts

Simplicity is the removal of the useless and the unnecessary--source unknown

Collage

On my table today, two collages in progress.

I've accumulated so much collage material that I'm forced to triage, use, and get rid of, piles of paper and scraps of all kinds. When I first started collage, I was so infatuated with it that I collected everything I could get my hands on, thinking that I would be doing this forever. But I'm also a painter and a stitcher, so I go for very long periods without working on any collages. It would take two lifetimes to use up all my supplies...

Meanwhile, I've put together a couple of collage packages in my Etsy shop here and here .

 


Simplicity is the removal of the useless and the unnecessary--source unknown

Stitch

My cure for a barometric headache (apart from a dose of ibuprofen) is to stay out of the rain and do some stitching.

My sewing basket is out, and I'm adding more to this piece and ...

... putting the finishing touches on this one. I'm thinking cross-stitch around the centre.

 Meanwhile, hoping the sky with clear in time for walking my two dog clients :)

Simplicity is the removal of the useless and the unnecessary--source unknown

Tags

A pause in Saturday chores (read cleaning up my work space) to make some tags.

 

Simplicity is the removal of the useless and the unnecessary--source unknown

Resolution

 Dear blog friends,

Thank you for your comments and your good thoughts.

Yesterday's daffodils were like a message.

Thanks to a dear family member who worked on my behalf, the problem is now resolved, and in my favour. I'm relieved and grateful.

The other side to this past week of fear and uncertainly is that everything I've learned about myself - i.e., all the "work" I've done on myself - kicked in. I realized that the fear was an old one that rose to the surface and exaggerated everything; that one way or the other I would survive; that there is no shame in asking for help; that it was temporary.

"Turning to face my fear,

I meet the warrior who lives within me" -- Jennifer Wellwood




Simplicity is the removal of the useless and the unnecessary--source unknown

Daffodils

A neighbour offered me some flowers the other day. He didn't know that daffodils have a special meaning for me, and that makes his gesture even more special. Ever since he had a shoulder injury, I've been walking his two dogs for him every day, and it's done me a world of good. I can't afford to keep a dog and these two make up for it.

On one of my walks, I was thinking about my situation and that I feel embarrassed when someone offers me help, when I realized something -- you get back what you put out into the world. When I had, I used to give freely those who needed it; now that I don't have, there are friends who are giving back. They're not the same people I helped but it proves the point. It comes back to you one way or another.



“All shall be well, all shall be well, and all manner of things shall be well.” - Dame Julian of Norwich

 I don't mind telling you, it's been a week from hell.

Just as I put out a couple of little fires, a bigger one happened. After taking some deep breaths, I looked for the positives - there's always a positive to every negative - and took appropriate action. Then I contacted a family member in Europe who is in a position to help with the issue, who emailed me promptly and told me to hang tight and that he would look into it, then called an old friend in San Diego who never fails to calm me down and make me feel safe, and then mentally listed what I like to call my gratitudes.

I have learned to overcome the feeling of being alone in the world. I've learned to take whatever action I can take, to help myself, but also to reach out to the right people. And to reciprocate.


So all this interrupted the work I was doing and my work space is a mess, the mess that happens when I've making art.

My mantra at the moment is: This too shall pass and all will be well.






Simplicity is the removal of the useless and the unnecessary--source unknown

 Here is the finished piece. While cutting my scraps, I saw the shape of a house. I wanted to use it but at first it didn't anywhere - until I added the strips below the dress.

Available in my Etsy shop.

Simplicity is the removal of the useless and the unnecessary--source unknown

During my (slow-motion) cleaning up I came across some sketches I made of vintage-style baby dresses. Since I've taken up stitching again, I transferred the idea to a quiltie.

I want to add a safety pin but I haven't decided on the placement.

Here

or here?

Simplicity is the removal of the useless and the unnecessary--source unknown

Monoprints

In the last couple of days my practice consisted of monoprinting. I wanted to make some painted papers to tear up and use for collages (if I ever get around to that  - haha!)


I made a series of monoprints some years ago and saved the masks and stencils.

 And used some of them again for the painted papers idea.

 This one is on thin, but very strong, Japanese paper. It may not go into the collage painted papers pile; I think it can stand on its own.

 

Simplicity is the removal of the useless and the unnecessary--source unknown

A dead battery and the weather

Last Saturday we got hit by a surprise ice storm followed by rain. The worst part were the high winds, coming from the east. My home faces east so I got the full brunt of it. The wind created some very strange noises, especially the one that sounded like a foghorn. This went on for 24 hours; it was hard to stay calm with nerves on edge.

I did a little stitching, trying out some embroidery.

I also discovered that my land line wasn't working at full speed. It turns out that the phone is connected to the modem, along with Internet and TV, and has a battery in it for backup during outages. We didn't have an outage but...the phone is dependent on the battery no matter what. I'm unable to call people on their cell phones (although I can receive their calls) but I can connect to other land lines.

As I wait for the new battery, I think how simple it was when the phone was independent and not reliant on some battery that you have to replace every 2 years.

Be safe, wherever you are.

 


Simplicity is the removal of the useless and the unnecessary--source unknown

 Many thanks to my readers for your supportive words... my mojo is slowly coming back.

My stitching certainly helped. Two of my safety-pin quilties are sold and are on their way to Australia. This is all the more special for me because they're going to an area of Sydney that my oldest and best friend, recently departed (gone to the Divine) lived in for decades before her illness.

To further boost my mojo, I pulled out my monoprint paraphernalia, getting it ready to make some new prints.

Books by artists also help get my juices flowing. Yesterday I spent some time with this one. For the paintings, the colours, the humour....

Simplicity is the removal of the useless and the unnecessary--source unknown